Brake



April 16, 1935. E. w. BEREIT BRAKE Filed Jan. 9, 1950 Patented Apr. 16, 1935 i 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAKE Edwin W. Bereit, Mentor, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Crane & Engineering Company, Wicklifle, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 9, 1930, Serial No. 419,561

10 Claims. (01. 188-62) This invention relates to a braking device which carrier 5 is provided with a swivel ll, to afford has particular application in connection with substantially universal movement, so as to permit overhead carriers, although it is to be understood the carrier to pass around curves and the like. that its use is not to be limited thereto. While the type of carrier herein illustrated 5 An object of the present invention is to prois adapted for manual operation, it should be .5

vide a brake which will normally tend to stop a understood that the braking apparatus about to load brought into engagement therewith, and be described in connection therewith is as readily which may be manually rendered ineffective, to effective with other types of carriers, and that the thereby release the braked load or permit the load invention is not to be limited thereto.

to travel past the brake without braking opera- In connection with conveyor systems of vari- 10 tion. ous types it is desirable to be able to stop the Another object of the invention is to provide a loads carried thereby at predetermined locations brake disposed in the path of movement of the for various reasons, and it is one of the important load and normally positioned for engagement features of the present invention to provide an therewith, to thereby bring the load to a stop efficient bralnng mechanism which will fulfill this 15 gradually against increasing resistance. purpose. Such a mechanism has particular ap- A further object of the invention is to provide plication in connection with overhead conveyor a positive stop for the load in the event that the systems which extend through bakers and similar weight of the load is in excess of the braking operating rooms, and it is important that the car resistance of the brake. riers be brought to a stop within the bakers for a 20 A further object of the invention is to provide predetermined period of time. This condition is a device of the character described, which is simonly one of many, and it is to be understood that ple in construction, efficient in operation and inthis invention is not to be limited to this parexpensive to manufacture. ticular use.

With the objects above indicated and other A pair of longitudinally extending angles I8 25 objects hereinafter explained in View, my invenare disposed upon opposite sides of the I-beam tion consists in the construction and combina- M of the carrier I3, which have their upper legs tion of elements hereinafter described and extending inwardly in substantially the same claimed. plane as the upper flange of the I-beam M, as

Referring to the drawing: shown in Figure 3. These angles l8 extend at a 30 Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an appa slight inclination in the direction of travel of ratus embodying the present invention. the carrier and have theiropposite ends depend- Figure 2 is a horizontal transverse View taken ing, as indicated at ill, for a purpose to be later along line 2-2 of Figure 1. described. The angles 18 act as brake shoes in Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the same. the braking operation and cooperate with the 35 In the drawing an I-beam i0 is illustrated, underextended surfaces of channel cross bars 19, which forms a part of the usual superstructure secured to the upper flange of the I-bearn M at provided in connection with installations of this the front and rear portions, respectively, as shown particular character, and which is preferably in Figure 1. supported in any suitable manner from the roof The angles H! are connected by a suitable mech- 40 or other'portions of the building. This I-beam l8 anism which will be hereinafter described, to is disposed above a monorail track H, forming cause them to move in a vertical plane in unipart of the overhead conveyor system, and which son, and are so positioned that they will nortrack is suspended from the beam [0 by a plumally engage the undersurfaces of the channel rality of hanger rods I2. cross bars !9 to cause braking action therebe- A carrier, generally indicated at It, is adapted tween and tend to stop the travel of the load. to convey the load along the overhead system to Due to the fact that these angles l8 are inclined any desired location, and comprises, in the presslightly in the direction of the travel of the load, ent instance, an I-beam, M, which is suspended the braking action or frictional resistance between beneath the monorail track H and adapted to the angles !8 and the channel cross bars 19 is 50 move therealong through the medium of a front increased, and because of the rigid connection carrier [5 and a rear carrier I6 of the usual type, between the I-beam l4 and the carriers t5and comprising wheels disposed on opposite sides of 16, there is a tendency to relieve the load from the monorail track I I and adapted to travel along the wheels of the carriers l5 and I6 and to sup the laterally extending flanges thereof. The rear port the load upon the angles Hi. In the event 3 that the angles |8 were not capable of stopping an exceptionally heavily loaded carrier a pair of stops are secured to the inwardly extending legs of the angles l8 and are disposed in the path of movement of the channel cross-bars l9, so as to positively stop the load under such conditions.

Suitable linkage is provided between the I- beam IQ of the superstructure and the angles l8, which linkage is indicated by 2| and 22, respectively, the linkage 2| being attached to the rear portions of the angles l8, while the linkage 22 is attached to the forward portions of the angles l3, and inasmuch as these linkages are identical in construction and operation it is believed that the description and operationvof the linkage 2| will sufiice.

A pair of links 23 have their lower ends pivotally connected at 24 to the depending legs, respectively, of the angles l8, while their upper ends are pivotally connected to a transversely extending rod 26. A pair of links 26 have their lower ends pivotally connected to the rod 25, while their upper ends are pivoted at 21 to a cross-bar 28 preferably formed integral with an attaching plate 23. This attaching plate 29 is attached by means of bolts, or other suitable means, to the lower flange of the I-beam i0, and may have disposed therebetween shims 3|), for the purpose of obtaining the desired inclination of the angles II. A pair of links 3| have their lower ends pivotally connected at 24 to the depending legs of the angles l8, while their upper ends are pivoted to a transverse extending rod 32. A pair of links 33 have their lower ends pivotally connected to the transversely extending bar 32, while their upper ends are pivotally connected at 34 to a transversely extending member 35 formed integral with an attaching plate 86. This attaching plate 36 may be attached to the lower flange of the i-"beam i3 by bolts or other suitable means and also being spaced therefrom by shims 31. A pair of links 38 have their outer ends pivotally connected to the transverse rod 32, while their outer ends have attached thereto a counterweight 33. A pair of links .40 have their outer ends pivotally connected to the transverse rod 25, while their outer ends have attached thereto a counter-weight 4|. A transverse rod 42 connects the pairs of links 3|! and 40 at a point substantially midway between the transverse rod 25 and the transverse rod 32 and provides a suitable pivot about which these links may move. It will, therefore, be seen that when an upward pull is exerted upon the transverse rod 42 the linkage mechanism is moved into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, and such movement causes a downward movement of the angle members I8. This downward movement of the angle members I8 causes them to be disengaged from the channel cross bars IS a sumcient extent to permit the carrier to be moved without any braking action, and additionally over the positive stops '20.

A pull chain 43 extends over a sheave 44, and has provided at one end a handle 45, which is adapted to be pulled downwardly by an operator to move the linkage into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, to thereby release the braking action upon the carrier.

The opposite end of the pull chain 48 has connected thereto a chain 44, which passes over a double sheave .45 supported by the beam Hi, and is connected to the transverse rod 42, while a secand chain 46 is connected to the pull chain 43 and passes over the double sheave and a single sheave 41, suitably supported by the beam l0, and which has its opposite end connected to the transverse rod 42 of the linkage mechanism 22. It will, therefore, be readily understood that when the operator pulls upon the pull chain 43 both of the linkage mechanisms 2| and 22 operate in unison, so as to lower the angles l3 uniformly.

Tie bars l8 are provided for reinforcing the angles l8 and are disposed on opposite sides of the angles I8, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower ends of the tie bars 48 are pivotally connected at 43 to the end portions of the angle bars, while the upper ends are pivotally connected to one of the cross-bars 28, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation-of the device the loaded carrier travels over the monorail track towards the left, as viewed in Figure 1. The channel crossbars |9 pass over the forward ends of the angles l8, and gradually contact with the inwardly extending legs of the angles ill. The friction created by the engagement between these members resists the travel of the loaded carrier and tends to stop the same. This resistance is gradually increased, due to the slight inclination of the angles ID in the direction of the travel of the carrier. If it is desired to urge the loaded carrier slightly forward the pull chain 43 may be operated by pulling the handle 45, which thus operates the linkage mechanisms 2| and 22, and thereby causes the angles l8 to be moved downwardly until they are out of engagement with the channel cross-bars l3. If it is desired to have the carrier move completely beyond the braking mechanism a downward pull is exerted on the handle 45 until the angles l8 are in their lower position, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l, in which event the channel cross-bars l8 may readily pass above the positive stops 20.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited thereto, as changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a load supporting member adapted to travel along a predetermined path, braking means mounted independently of said member and normally adapted to engage the latter at a point in its travel to gradually bring said member to a stop, means mounted upon said braking means and adapted for engagement with said supporting member for positively stopping the latter independently of the action of said braking means, and means operatively connected with said braking means for moving the latter to inoperative position.

2. In an apparatus of the character described,

a track, a carrier adapted to travel along said.

track, braking means disposed at a predetermined point along said track and normally adapted to cooperate with said carrier to gradually bring the latter to a stop, means mounted upon said braking means and adapted for engagement with said carrier for positively stopping said carrier due to failure of said braking means, and means operatively connected with said braking means for moving the latter to inoperative position.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, an overhead track, a load supporting member disposed beneath said track, wheeled carriers connected to said load supporting member and adapted to traverse said track, braking means along said track, means for raising said braking means to engage with said load supporting member to bring the latter to a stop, and means for lowering said braking means into a position out of engagement with said load supporting member.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, an overhead track, a load supporting member disposed beneath said track, Wheeled carriers connected to said load supporting member and adapted to traverse said track, and a brake member normally in the path of movement of said load supporting member and disposed beneath said track, said brake member being movable bodily in a vertical plane to engage with said load supporting member to bring the latter to a stop.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, an overhead track, a load supporting member disposed beneath said track, wheeled carriers connected to said load supporting member and adapted to traverse said track, spaced members disposed beneath and extending substantially parallel with said track, and transversely extending means connected to said load supporting member and adapted to engage said spaced members to bring said load supporting member to a stop.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, an overhead track, a load supporting member disposed beneath said track, wheeled carriers connected to said load supporting member and adapted to traverse said track, a brake member positioned along said track and adapted to engage said load supporting member to bring the latter to a stop, and weighted means acting upon said brake member.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, an overhead track, a load supporting member disposed beneath said track, wheeled carriers connected to said load supporting member and adapted to traverse said track, a bodily movable braking member positioned along said track and adapted to normally engage said load receiving member to retard its movement along said track,

and interengaging means between said load supporting member and said brake member for positively stopping said load supporting member.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, an overhead track, a load supporting member disposed beneath said track, wheel carriers connected to said load supporting member and adapted to traverse said track, brake bars extending longitudinally of said track and connected in spaced relation, said bars being normally positioned in the path of movement of said load supporting member to thereby cause the latter to be gradually stopped, means supporting said bars for vertical movement bodily, and means for moving said bars.

9. In apparatus of the character described the combination of an overhead track, a brake member having an upwardly inclined engaging surface extending longitudinally of said track and supported adjacent the same, a carrier including load supporting means on said track adapted to travel therealong, the carrier having a portion thereof adapted to engage and ride up on the upwardly inclined surface of said brake member whereby part or all of the weight of the load carried thereby is transferred to said brake member and the carrier brought to a stop, and means for lowering said brake member to release the carrier.

19. In an apparatus of the character described toggle links whereby said brake member is raised or lowered with reference to said track, and means for limiting the movement of said brake member longitudinally of the track.

EDWIN V7. BEREIT. 

